ABORTION. 245 



then only, do the calf attachments to the womb or uterus 

 of the mother separate. The cow brightens up, and feels 

 as it were a life de nova, though carrying her dead offspring 

 . — which she will continue to do till the fresh stimulus 

 given by the blood that formerly gave life to the calf 

 enables her system to contract the womb, and thereby expel 

 the foreign body. 



Causes. These should not have remained so long a mys- 

 tery, when we consider how difficult and unreasonable it is 

 for us to expect the cow to thrive and do well when placed 

 in an anomalous condition — one totally foreign to her spe- 

 cies — a " factory hand," as much so as the veriest operative 

 in the mills of Lowell and Lawrence. The true causes, 

 to be brief, are — 1. Feeding upon slop or other milk 

 secreting materials. 2. Insufficient feed of whatever de- 

 scription. 3. The attempted reproduction of the species, 

 whilst at the same time a drain is being made upon the 

 system by an excessive and unnatural demand for milk. 

 4. Irritation of the white membranes of the wind-pipe, 

 changing and weakening the blood. 5. Exudative pleuro- 

 pneumonia, or other debilitating disease. Any of the 

 above named causes, singly or combined, when acting 

 upon an animal placed at so great a disadvantage, as we 

 have shown, will necessarily result in outraged nature 

 chosing her great prerogative between life and death and 

 the perfect propagation of her progeny. 



Prevention. This can readily be done, as every intelligent 

 reader will conclude after reviewing the causes. It con- 

 sists in : 



1. Feeding substantial feed, and enough of it, but not 

 excessively sloppy or wet — for in this way, the bowels are 

 kept too loose, relaxing the solids of the body, and thereby 

 inducing over secretion of milk at the expense of good 

 health. 



